Aivi Luik Faces Three-Month Doping Ban

Australian footballer Aivi Luik has been suspended for three months by Italian anti-doping authorities due to a doping breach stemming from a painkilling injection received while playing for Serie A club Pomigliano. Luik, who withdrew from Olympics selection citing a hamstring injury, has since revealed that her withdrawal was actually due to this suspension. The injection, containing a banned substance, was administered without proper exemption approval from the anti-doping agency, Nado Italia, which later rejected her club's application for a waiver. Despite not testing positive, Luik's case was dismissed by an Italian tribunal, and she is considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Her current club, Häcken, expressed disappointment with the mishandling of her case by Pomigliano and Nado Italia. Luik remains determined to clear her name and return stronger to the sport.